Birth in Tunisia: announcement, zrir and aqiqa

A birth in Tunisia is celebrated with its own customs: the zrir served at every visit, the aqiqa that gathers the family, and congratulations of its own. Here is how a baby is welcomed in Tunisia, with birth announcement wording in Arabic, French and English — for a message or a proper invitation.

Zrir, the sweet of births

Zrir is a Tunisian cream of sesame, hazelnuts, butter and honey, inseparable from births: the new mother eats it to regain strength, and it is offered in small glasses to every relative who comes to congratulate the family, as La Presse explains.

The aqiqa and the forty days

The aqiqa is the sacrifice offered for a child’s birth. In the Maliki school followed in Tunisia, it is recommended, takes place on the seventh day, and involves one sheep for a girl or a boy alike; many families gather relatives and neighbours for a meal and announce the name. During the forty days after birth, the mother rests and close relatives visit. Note that the Egyptian “sebou’” is not a Tunisian custom, and that assida in Tunisia is the dessert of the Mouled, not of births.

Announcement wording

• “By the grace of God, we are delighted to announce the birth of our daughter Leila.”
• “بفضل الله وحسن توفيقه، رُزقنا بمولودتنا ليلى.” — By the grace of God, we have been blessed with our daughter Leila.
• “Mr and Mrs Mohamed Ben Salah are delighted to invite you to a celebration for their newborn son Adam.”

How to congratulate

Say “mabrouk, yetrabba fi izzkom” — congratulations, may he grow up in your care (for a girl, “tetrabba”) — or “rabbi ykhallihoulkom”, may God keep him for you; parents reply “allah ybarek fik”. invi.tn has a design made for a birth celebration (BCHARA), with the date, the venue and guest RSVPs — see the catalogue and our guide to Arabic wishes.